FEATURE FOCUS: INTELLIGENT CLASSROOM DESIGN


and durability. Sikafloor had just the solution. Stick ‘n’ Step, which is based in Wallasey,


Merseyside supports youngsters with cerebral palsy, supplying the necessary skills to help them live independently. Sika Comfortfloor® PS-66, a system comprising a polyurethane


body layer and top coat over an acoustic mat, was specified by contractors, Quest International, as a replacement for the charity HQ’s existing surface which had deteriorated in places and become a health and safety hazard. Smooth, durable and slip-resistant, the resin-based Sika Comfortfloor® PS-66 significantly reduces the potential for trips and falls. Its shock-absorbent properties were another key design aspect, bearing in mind the vulnerabilities of the children. Its colour range enabled the selection of a shade in order to give a ‘light and airy’ feel to the interior environment. The floor’s installation had to be completed in


Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council shows an appropriately-designed classroom can boost learning progress by 16%. Therefore, the adaption of particular shades and tones on floors and walls could transform a perfunctory, practical learning environment into an exceptional one. This increasing colour awareness has led to


schools tailoring the look of certain areas to a particular atmosphere they are trying to create. Warm colours such as orange and red, for example, which are thought to inspire creativity, make them suitable for arts or craft rooms. Yellow, a colour that inspires energy and excitement, is said to be ideal decoration for play or leisure spaces, whilst green reportedly enhances knowledge retention. Colour schemes can also be mixed and


matched to suit a particular student age group. Bright colours, whilst helping pre or primary school children thrive, can over-stimulate older students. Therefore, neutral flooring, incorporating a more striking tone, might present an effective compromise. As part of the Equality Act 2010 it is the requirement of institutions to improve accessibility and promote inclusive opportunities for students and staff. Therefore, it is important to understand the role colour can play in this i.e: using it to improve signage and applying palates to suit the visually impaired. Colours applied to classroom walls and floors


can also affect personal comfort levels when the exterior temperature rises. Research confirms that being in a space where cool shades and tones predominate makes us feel cooler than being in a space where warm colors prevail. Therefore, when the heat is on, classrooms decked in green and blue tones will help students remain chilled. This type of colour psychology could also be extremely useful in maintaining the comfort of occupants in schools where large amounts of solar gain and poor air conditioning is an issue. As well as creating the right environment,


colours can help instil a good impression. For schools, where reputation is everything, the design of entrance halls, atriums and communal areas is key to establishing a tone or reinforcing an identity. Might these public-facing areas – which also offer students a first-glimpse of their long-term learning environment – be an ideal space to promote the school’s official colours? Indeed, such is the flexibility of Sika’s


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Comfortfloor® range, there is not only the opportunity to create safe, hygienic resin flooring to suit an array of colour requirements; it allows the incorporation of patterns, logos and motifs varying in elaboration. Therefore, whether it’s a school coat-of-arms or an inspirational quotation, Sika Comfortfloor® can help send the right message. Expert sources including ArchDaily, ‘the world’s


most visited architecture website’, agree: as well as being easy on the eye, colour influences the mind. No matter how grand the design, if a room isn’t dressed in the appropriate shade, it’s likely to fail in its purpose. Such an outcome could have serious consequences, particularly in relation to our children’s learning. So, whilst it is absolute correct that a floor’s


prime purpose is to help create a safe, clean, comfortable environment for students and staff during the current health crisis and thereafter, there also remains capacity for a system that fulfils a school’s visual requirements. With Sika’s resin-based Comfortfloor® range, there is a solution to cover all bases in style.


Case study: Stick ‘n’ Step education facility For the refurbishment of a charity HQ which caters for children with special educational needs, it was vital the flooring offered the highest safety standards as well as excelling in terms of comfort


readiness for the new school term, which meant contractors working to a tight, four-week deadline. However, upon removing the original wood and vinyl flooring the concrete sub-base was found to be in a poor state of repair. To overcome this, a high-strength, early loadable screed was installed. This required a week to fully- set, which had a detrimental effect on the contractor’s works schedule. Before the new surface could be installed a plumber was called upon to reroute radiators and pipes; again, to the detriment of the project’s timeframe. The ease at which the Sika Comfortfloor® PS-


66 was applied meant the project’s unforeseen challenges were comfortably overcome. The liquid-applied system was quickly and easily installed as one seamless piece, eliminating joints which could harbour bacteria. In addition, the floor’s constitution means it will resist the growth of bacteria or fungus. The Sika Comfortfloor® PS-66 system’s rapid


and expert installation meant that despite the programme’s complexities, these very special children were able to resume lessons after the summer holidays in bright new surroundings which will increase their sense of wellbeing and in-turn, enhance their learning ability. The robust, easy-to-clean flooring also offers peace of mind to parents and staff that the children have been provided with the safest-possible classroom environment.


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